Please Atone

Father Balin was furiously berating the hapless Dragon Cavalry and Copper Hats, while an enraged Mr. Grong led a large force rushing up into the dormitory building. As one of the empire's highest institutions of learning, the Fifth University had nearly a hundred guards stationed across its vast campus. The campus disciplinary office, established specifically to oversee the students, also had a group of broad-shouldered teachers and students at its disposal.

A full two hundred men followed Mr. Grong into the dormitory, blocking the corridor solidly. Even more horrifying was the fact that among the guards behind Mr. Grong were ten beastmen. Judging by their high, bulging brows, their thick black body hair unlike that of ordinary humans, and their extremely long faces, these ten beastmen were likely descendants of minotaurs and humans.

During the Hundred-Year Land-Island War, the northern Five Great Linked Islands and the countries on the continent had been locked in unending warfare, and there had been quite a few such mixed-bloods. Some mixed-bloods who were naturally savage and violent had already been executed by the empire and the Church working together. However, there were many descendants of mixed-bloods like the minotaurs, whose dispositions were honest and steady, serving in the human empires.

After all, minotaurs were naturally loyal and dependable. Once tamed, they became the most faithful subordinates. Their physical strength was several times that of ordinary people, and their innate might was awe-inspiring. Even mixed-blood descendants of minotaurs were excellent candidates for becoming warriors, and their progress in cultivating battle qi was far greater than that of ordinary people.

Furthermore, these mixed-bloods never held high positions. They generally worked as menials or ordinary guards, and their wages and treatment were inferior even to those of ordinary people of comparable status. Thus, the appearance of ten minotaur mixed-bloods among the guards of the Fifth University was nothing unusual. To these Dragon Cavalry and Copper Hats, however, ten powerfully built descendants of minotaur mixed-bloods represented an enormous threat.

Mr. Grong angrily waved his cane and advanced step by step toward the stunned hapless men. In a stern tone, he scolded them one word at a time: "Who gave you the authority? Who gave you the nerve to use violence to storm the campus of the Fifth University?"

Raising one finger, Mr. Grong snarled, "First, you disrupted the normal teaching order of the campus. I will petition the Minister of Education to lodge a protest with the military and the Security Office."

The Dragon Cavalry and Copper Hats all shuddered at once, and beads of sweat even began to drip from their foreheads.

Raising a second finger, Mr. Grong sneered. "Second, you violently destroyed the main gate of our dormitory. As imperial public servants, you brazenly damaged imperial property. I will submit a complaint about this charge to the Imperial Ministry of Finance and the Imperial Ministry of Education!"

The Dragon Cavalry and Copper Hats all took a step back, exposing the two hapless men who stood there foolishly, still holding the battering rams they had used to break down the door.

Mr. Grong could not even be bothered to look at the two Dragon Cavalrymen whose legs were trembling. He raised a third finger and scolded through clenched teeth, "Third, this is a sacred campus, a place where the empire nurtures talent. You actually dared to draw your swords and threaten an outstanding university student. Who gave you this authority? Do you still remember the final article of the Imperial Education Act?"

The Dragon Cavalrymen stared blankly at Mr. Grong. As members of the Dragon Cavalry, they were the standing elite force of the imperial capital, Berely. They were experts at fighting and waging war, but when it came to the empire's legal statutes, they truly knew nothing. The cold sweat on the foreheads of the Copper Hats, however, grew heavier and heavier. As secret police and an important part of the empire's law-enforcement apparatus, how could they possibly be unfamiliar with the Imperial Education Act?

The final article of the Imperial Education Act stated: Any imperial university student who violated imperial law had to be reported to the university authorities before law-enforcement procedures could be carried out against them.

The empire was vast and heavily populated, but any student who could enter Berely University City—especially one of the few universities ranked near the top—was an imperial prodigy outstanding in both intelligence and character. Thus, the final article of the Imperial Education Act granted them a small privilege. Even the secret police, whose authority was nearly unlimited, had to go through the university and consult with its authorities before taking action against a student.

Regardless, today these Dragon Cavalry and Copper Hats had not informed the Fifth University authorities at all before barging straight into the dormitory building to arrest Lin Qi. They had even violently broken down Lin Qi's door and drawn their weapons to threaten him. If the matter were thoroughly investigated, they had violated imperial law first.

The expressions of the Dragon Cavalrymen relaxed slightly. They were unfamiliar with the legal statutes, so this responsibility should not fall on them.

The Copper Hats, however, looked as though their fathers had just died, their faces ashen beyond measure. The thin Copper Hat gave a dry explanation: "Sir, please hear me out."

Father Balin suddenly sprang three feet into the air and slapped the thin Copper Hat across the face with a resounding crack, nearly knocking him to the ground. Father Balin roared furiously, "Explain what? What is there to explain? Explain it to the holy Inquisition! You bunch of sinners—how dare you interrupt Lin Qi's work? He was copying prayer scriptures for me! You blasphemous heretics!"

Mr. Grong's gaze flickered slightly as he looked at Father Balin with approval.

Father Balin was the intermediary between Mr. Grong and many others. Many of Mr. Grong's less-than-savory affairs were carried out through Father Balin. Thus, Mr. Grong knew Father Balin's character exceedingly well. They were old acquaintances and old friends.

Seeing Father Balin suddenly strike out, Mr. Grong coughed heavily and loudly scolded, "Revered Father Balin, did they also damage the copying of the sacred prayers? Damn it, the copying of prayer scriptures must not be interrupted! These heretics—I will join you in reporting them to the holy Inquisition. They all deserve the harshest punishment!"

Father Balin nodded repeatedly with a gloomy expression. At that moment, Mr. Grong, representing secular power, and Father Balin, representing the authority of the great gods, formed a perfect partnership. They looked down majestically upon the Dragon Cavalry and Copper Hats, cowing them so thoroughly that they could not utter a single word.

The thin Copper Hat who had just been slapped nearly burst into tears. He stammered, trying to say something, but under the overwhelming pressure of Mr. Grong and Father Balin, he could only lower his head timidly. As merely a low-ranking constable, he passively awaited the judgment of fate.

Lin Qi emerged from his room with a grim expression. He glanced at Father Balin, then walked over to Mr. Grong's side and respectfully bowed to him.

"Director of Academic Affairs, Reverend Father, they are indeed unforgivable. However, the great gods have shown mercy beyond the law. Their crimes are not heinous beyond redemption."

Father Balin's eyes suddenly lit up. He pulled a thick roll of Atonement Talismans from his sleeve.

"Lost children, cleanse yourselves of your sins!"